Autumn is the best time to graft citrus fruit trees.

Oranges, also known as oranges, have many varieties and have been cultivated in China for nearly 4000 years. Grafting is a very common operation in citrus tree cultivation, which can achieve the effect of quickly updating varieties and putting into production. Today, I will introduce the best time and method for grafting orange trees. Let's have a look.

The best time to graft orange trees

Spring and autumn are the main grafting periods in citrus reticulata, but the grafting survival rate in autumn is high, so autumn is the best grafting period in citrus reticulata.

In addition, grafting should not be carried out in rainy weather, otherwise the newly grafted scion will be washed away by rain, which is easy to be infected with diseases, which is very unfavorable for later management.

Grafting method of orange tree

When grafting, you must handle the rootstock well, and then cut the buds. Generally, T-shaped budding method is adopted, and the T-shaped mouth is cut at the place where the rootstock is 3 ~ 5 cm from the ground. If the depth is deep, it is advisable to see the wood and peel off the bark of the rootstock. Then use a sharp knife to cut off the bark of the rootstock and insert the shield-shaped petiole bud into the T-shaped mouth.

After grafting, the seedlings grafted with buds should be managed. After the spring of the following year, cut off the stem from 18 to 20 cm above the bud joint and untie it. Prune at least three times in summer, and prune the branches from the rootstock. When the new shoots grow to 8 ~ 10cm, they can be tied to live piles near the base. When the new shoots grow to 20 to 25 cm, they can be tied again. After the grafting is lignified, the living piles can be cut off, so that the grafting can continue to cultivate large seedlings in the field.

Management of grafted orange trees

After the orange tree is grafted, it must be shaded, which can control the temperature well. If possible, you can also build a shade shed with curtains or put it in a cool place, preferably with scattered light from 9 am to 3 pm. Within half a month after grafting, if the scion does not wither and the leaves are firm and fresh, it means that it has survived. After about 1 month of maintenance, the interface will heal. The plastic bag can then be removed. Keep cool for one week after taking off the bag. When the interface is expanded, the tie line will be removed immediately. If buds appear on the rootstock, they need to be treated in time to ensure the nutrient supply of the scion. Successful seedlings need scientific management, so that they can grow new branches that year, three or four new branches that year, and then buds and fruits.